Last Update: 10 Jan 2021
Ultimate Tips for Patching Drywall
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Drywall is indeed a modern & popular outfit for most indoor walls with ceilings. But the top-class material doesn’t come without its problems. And you’ll have to repair the stuff at some points. Most homeowners prefer to get the job done by themselves. That’s where certain tips for patching drywall requires attention.
Wallboard, gyp board, plasterboard, sheetrock – drywall goes by multiple names. But there are some common problems you’ll have to face one way or another. For the best part, you can easily fix the issues with no expertise. All it takes some definite tricks with a specific process to recover the damage in earlier stages.
Basic Problems with Household Drywalls
Despite covering the major portion of the house, drywall doesn’t come without problems. There are several facts to damage the exterior finishing. The very first strategy ahead of patching concerns with problem identification. And we dug up the common issues you’re likely to encounter.
Popped Nails – It’s the formation of annoying circles resulting from the popping of nailhead. Occasional reasons include an insecure or improper setting of nails at the stud or joist center.
Surface Cracks – Initial thin cracks start out as an unsighted minor problem. But the effect of moisture towards complication of settling foundation blows the whistle.
Water Damage – There are too many sources inside the house to trigger the damage. Broken water line or leaks in ceilings often leads to faster destruction & weakening of drywall.
Joint Seams – Deterioration of seams cause the joint tape to appear noticeably. The applied compound layer gets thinned. It often comes loose due to moisture effect.
Small Holes – A good number of things trigger the occurrence of smaller holes. Even your own indoor action counts for it. The damage is mostly unsighted, requiring easy patches.
Medium Holes – Voids measuring less than 6” falls under mid-sized holes, resulting from impact loads. Extra care calls for the patching to skip the occurrence of slight surface bulges.
Larger Holes – Any accidental collision with the wall surface ends up causing larger holes. And you’ll have to go for certain patching complexity for revering the damaged portion.
Furniture Scuffs – The damage seems more like a minor issue. Its scratch resembles the appeal of marker stains. But you’re to encounter even before moving into the house.
Termite Damage – You’ll notice disintegrating baseboards, smaller pinholes, paint bubbles along with the hollow sound. The obvious problem requires careful attention before its neutralization.
Bead Dents – Metal strips on edges remain invisible following the application of the joint compound. Household rigors trigger the damage to the bead, causing dents on corners.
Damaged Patching – Everyday life includes dings or bruises towards the surface. Improper patching may solve the issues. But at a time, you’ll have to deal with stretched problems.
Easy Tips for Patching Drywall Issues
One specific fact regarding drywall fix concerns with an early repair. It’s entirely possible for you to patch the imperfections by yourself easily. If you ignore the problems at the initial stage, it’ll end up causing heavy damages. You’ll have to consult a professional service by then, spending a good number of bucks. We would like to know the simplified procedures towards damage patching in the early stages.
Taking Out Dents & Dings
Materials: Sandpaper, Knife, Joint Compound
- Gently scrape away all the slacked debris from the dent holes. Don’t use anything sharp or heavy to avoid further damage.
- Cover the entire affected portion with a rapid-drying spackle. Try to level the applied spackle in terms of the actual surface.
- Leave the treated portion for at least 24 hours for drying out. Smooth sanding action in the end will patch the minor dents.
Removing Popped Nail Heads
Materials: Drywall Screws, Spackle/Joint Compound, Driver/Nailer
- Ensure a solid reattachment by driving another screw into the stud. Make the installation just 1.5” above the popped nail heads.
- Cover the driven screw head using a sufficient amount of spackle. Sink the head right below the drywall surface to keep the process easy.
- Now target the pooped nail for driving in. Use spackle again to cover the head. Don’t forget to level the applied exterior with wall surfaces.
Repairing Small Surface Holes
Materials: Spackle/Joint Compound, Knife, Damp Rag, Sandpaper
- Take a carpenter’s knife to put the beveled edge around hold circumference. Don’t miss to utilize damp rags to clean the interior.
- Get a putty knife to apply spackle or joint compound to the void. Gently smear the filling component to keep it flushed with surfaces.
- Permit the leveled coating to dry for at least 24 hours or so. Use standard sandpaper to sand the portion lightly prior to 2nd coat.
Troubleshooting Medium-Sized Holes
Materials: Drywall Patch, Joint Compound, Sandpaper
- Lightly sand the hole along with its surrounding portions with light damage. Don’t forget to take off removable dust from the voids.
- Install the patch’s adhesive side right on the drywall surface. Start covering the patch using a joint compound in a cross-scissor pattern.
- Apply a sufficient amount of compounds to leave enough for feathering. Give another coat after sanding the dried-out patch cover.
- Sand again the dried 2nd coating with standard sandpapers. Not feather the edgings to make a perfect blend for the hole repair.
Fixing Large Drywall Holes
Materials: Scrap Drywall Piece, Screws, Saws, Furring Strip, Joint Tape, Joint Compound, Sandpaper
- Get square-sized new drywall having enough area to cover the hole. Set the piece on the targeted part to trace the surrounding surface using a pencil.
- Cut out the damaged portion along traced lines with a drywall saw. Insert the furring strips through the void to pull them tight enough against the wall back.
- Check-in drywall screws to anchor the strips from the front. Get dimpled or flushed screw head to ensure uniform anchorage throughout.
- Install the designed patch in a damaged place using the furring strips. Don’t forget to bed in tapes to apply joint compounds for covering the whole unit.
- After all those, tips for patching drywall gets the same right here. Apply the 2nd layer of the coat before leaving the treated surface undisturbed for 24 hours.
Patching Corner Bead Damages
Materials: Hack Saw, New Corner Bead, Utility Knife, Nail/Adhesive, Joint Compound, Sandpaper
- Cut down the damaged bead portion from horizontal positions. Use a hacksaw to make the cuts above & below the busted mar.
- Take a utility knife to make vertical cuts along with the drywall. Connect all separated edges to ensure a rectangular removal of the damaged portion.
- Get a new piece to install to recover the damaged bead area. Check manufacturer recommendation to choose from a nail, fastener, or adhesive.
- Integrate joint compound from both corners to cover the patch. Let the applied portion dry & sand for imparting smoothness.
Check out our Tools section to find the perfect gears (Sanders, Saws, Drivers, etc.) required for the job.
Essential Safety Measures to Follow
Ensure Safe Utility Placement – Check all the electric wire attachments to drywall studs. Locate the studs before start making the cuts, nails, or drills.
Don’t Forget Protective Wears – Drywall patching tasks posses some risk over hazardous chemical. You better put on gloves, goggles & mask with additional clothing.
Cleaning the Affected Portion – Sand dust coming from drywall is somewhat a respiratory irritant. Wipe out the removable dust using damp rag or cloth.
Beware of the Buckets/Tubs – Tubs containing joint compounds often pose a suffocation hazard for children. Keep the buckets out of reach, even when it’s in use.
Spackle vs Joint Compound
Wall patching putties involves both the terms more often. It almost sounds like interchangeable options for drywall repair jobs. Despite the similarities, there are certain differences between the products. You need to get the distinctive facts to make a perfect application on the job.
Joint Compound:
Drywall mud or joint compound is simply gypsum dust. You’ll have to mix the powder with water to create a cake-frost solution. There are pre-mixed tubs available in the market. It includes a lightweight formulation ahead of easy seam applications. The setting composition is ideal for pulling off small to heavy patching tasks.
Spackle:
The formula also contains gypsum powder for its major share. But there are additional binders included for efficient action. And the consistency comes in a gooey toothpaste-like solution. Less shrinkage characteristic allows the applied paste to dry rather quickly. Therefore, you can take out smaller dings, dents & nail holes.
Perfect Drywall Patch
Final Verdict
Regular home maintenance is one task to perform to keep the indoor liveable. And drywall patch repair is no different either. There are solutions for every single problem associated with drywall.
Unless the issue gets severe, the job remains simple for anyone. Our tips for patching drywall should help you in this regard. All you need is to detect the intensity & type to take action for recovery.
